Flight Forward Read online

  Flight Forward

  Piper Reagan

  Copyright © 2019 by Piper Reagan

  This is a work of fiction. Some character names and some locations from JB Salsbury’s Fighting series. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Fighting series remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of JB Salsbury.

  All rights reserved. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be sold.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  A Note to Readers

  Blurb

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Piper Reagan

  A Note to Readers

  From JB Salsbury

  There is nothing more flattering than a reader who loves your characters so much that they want to write in their world. When Piper told me she had always been wanting Jonah’s mother, Katherine, to have her own HEA, I gave her my blessing to have at it.

  The end result is an incredibly beautiful story about heartbreak, family, and love’s unpredictability. I hope you enjoy this dip into the Fighting world as seen through the eyes of the incredibly talented Piper Reagan.

  If you’re interested in learning more about my books, you’ll find them on my website.

  xo,

  JB

  Blurb

  Jonah Slade, UFL Heavyweight Champion finally has it all. With wife Raven (story Fighting for Flight by JB Salsbury) and a baby on the way, life is finally where he wants it. That is until his mother decides she's ready to start dating. After losing his father at age twelve, the one thing Jonah has never gotten over, can he watch his mother find love again?

  Katherine Slade has focused on nothing but her children since the sudden loss of her husband fifteen years ago. Finally ready to move on, she stumbles across her son's new neighbor. Can Marcus Dean, Crew Chief of the hottest rising NHRA Funny Car driver be the one to mend her broken heart?

  Or will her son's struggles keep her from her Flight Forward?

  Prologue

  Jonah

  I close the front door, kicking my shoes off and tossing my backpack at the same time. “Mom?”

  My stomach growls and like a starving dog, my nose follows the smell of her chili into the kitchen. I head straight to the stove, lift the lid, and inhale.

  Mom takes the lid from my hand and scoots me to the side with her hip. “How was school?”

  “Good.” I kiss her cheek, something I know better than to ever skip doing when I first see her. Dad’s number one rule: Kiss your mom, tell her you love her. She’s devoted her entire life to us.

  “What time is practice, sweetheart?”

  “Six.”

  “Good, your dad will be home in time to take you. Beth and I are heading out to shop for a dress. This father-daughter dance may be the death of me. The sooner we can head out, the better.” She raises her eyebrows and gives me the pray for me look. It’s the unspoken expression we have when Beth starts in with her crazy. My ten-year-old sister is even worse than the ones you see on TV. Throwing herself around like a baby when she doesn’t get her way. Dad never seems to notice that she belongs in a nut house. All that girl has to do is stomp a foot and he’s fixing whatever she’s crying about.

  “Good luck with that.” I shake my head, thankful I’m not getting stuck going along.

  “Maybe we should send Dad to do it.” She turns around and leans against the counter, a huge smile on her face. “Yes! I’m liking this idea.”

  “That would be hil—“

  A knock interrupts our plans to stick Dad on dress duty.

  Mom is still laughing on the way to the door. Her laughter cuts off so abruptly that my stomach bottoms out. I look up and see two uniformed officers standing at the door. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but the sobering expressions and hats held firmly in their hands causes my feet to cement to the floor. Fear grips me, holding me in place.

  “No!” Mom bends at the waist. “No!”

  The agony ripping through her voice pulls me out of my stupor and I’m rushing to catch her, afraid she will fall.

  “We’ll need you to go identify the body.” The officer reaches out and puts a hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry Mrs. Slade, but it’s standard procedure.”

  “Please tell me this isn’t happening. Please.” Her voice is just a whisper. I wrap my arms around her, but she’s already hitting the floor. My body goes right along with hers.

  “Mom?”

  “He’s gone, Jonah.”

  I didn’t hear her right. I couldn’t have. “What?” My voice cracks on the word, unable to accept the truth.

  “Dad.” She’s shaking so hard in my arms that it’s taking every ounce of strength I have to keep them clasped around her small body. “He’s gone.”

  Gone.

  In that moment, on that day, at twelve years old, my life as I knew it ended. I was no longer a sheltered kid without a care in the world. No longer the son of the greatest man that ever lived.

  No.

  I was the survivor.

  And there is only one way to survive this…

  For Mom, Beth, and especially myself… in every sense of the word.

  I became a fighter.

  Chapter One

  Fifteen years later

  Katherine

  I’m so thankful the flight from Phoenix to Las Vegas was smooth and on time. My Fitness tracker buzzes on my wrist, telling me I only have ten minutes to get my steps in for this hour. Yes, tracker, I’m well aware I’ve been on my butt for too long. Thank you though.

  I pull my little carryon to the baggage claim and look around for Jonah. I shake my head when I see a tall figure hidden behind a crumpled white poster board, black sharpie scribbled haphazardly to say Sexiest Grandma Alive. I pity the poor lady who’s being picked up. Clearly, her ride is making a spectacle.

  I head for the luggage corral and notice that the poster is walking toward me. What the heck? I speed up a little, not wanting this crazy person to trip and fall on me. Who walks around hidden behind a poster?

  I stop and tuck in really close to a businessman waiting on his luggage, and hope the weirdo passes on. If not, hopefully this man whose personal space I’ve taken over is all about the Good Samaritan act, should nut job do anything stupid.

  “Sexy Grandma! Why are you running from me?” The deep baritone voice sounds dreadfully familiar and all too close to me.

  I’m just going to pretend like I didn’t hear him, see if he moves along. The man next to me has his face buried in his cell phone, probably not even aware that I’m almost on top of him.

  “Sexy Grandma, why do you keep ignoring my advances? I’m seriously wounded over here.”

  Well, crap. I do know that voice. When I get ahold of my son, he’s going to regret the day he sub-let out the job to pick up his mother at the airport.

 
I turn around slowly, and let my eyes travel over the man in front of me. He’s in a deep purple hoodie that’s pulled low over his head, dark aviators cover what I know are beautiful green eyes. And that darn smile he’s flashing at me right now will no doubt make him get away with that ridiculous sign he made.

  “Blake.”

  “Sexy Grandma.”

  I try to roll my eyes, but his smile really is contagious. I can’t help but laugh. “I’m going to roll that sign up and beat you with it.”

  “Dirty.” He hits me with a wicked grin and looks over his shoulder, then from side-to-side. “If you’re going to spank me, let’s find someplace more private. The minute I’m recognized, every female in this joint will be flocking.”

  The beep of the luggage arriving interrupts my response. But honestly, I have nothing to say to that. Blake grabs my suitcase and we head for short-term parking.

  “So how did you end up on pickup duty? I was expecting Joey.”

  Blake’s head drops back with a laugh, “God, I love it when you call him that. I forget sometimes, ya know, to switch it up from Vajonah on occasion.”

  “Focus, Blake.”

  “Right. Well, apparently, Eve was getting a bit crazy with the baby shower games. She pulled out a cardboard cutout of a naked dude before she realized Jonah was still in the house. Something about pin the dick on the dick? Anyway… Jonah — now this may come as a shock to you — lost his shit. Something about his wife looking at other men’s penises and last I knew… naked cardboard man was on fire in the back yard.”

  “Oh my.” Just the reminder of my serious son has my heart filling with warmth. I miss him so much. Raven too. I just can’t wait to see them both. “What a disappointment. I’ve never played that game before.”

  “Dirty Sexy Grandma, you will never play pin the dick on the dick. Nor will any of the other women under our regime.”

  “Regime?”

  “You heard me.”

  “Oh, you poor, poor, boy. You’ll understand this when you get married. But just so you know… the only regime you’ll be active in, is the one your wife runs.” I wink at the poor, clueless man beside me.

  He’ll figure it out one of these days.

  Chapter Two

  Jonah

  I recline back in the lounger, the cold beer in my hand is helping to calm my mood, and regulate my temp. The last few embers flicker in the fire pit where I just cremated the cardboard bullshit Eve tried to sneak in. Who the fuck brings a naked man to a baby shower?

  “Yo! One sexy grandma delivered.”

  Jesus, my nerves can’t take this shit today. “Blake.” He’s crossing a line.

  “Jooooey.” His answering smirk tells me he doesn’t give a shit.

  Mom interrupts our stare down. “Boys.” She sidesteps Blake, her petite figure hidden behind his massive one. “Quit doing that measuring contest thing and give your mom a kiss.”

  I’m up and out of the lounger. I wrap her in my arms, and lift her off the ground - something I’ve proudly been able to do since I was eleven and it never gets old. I put her down and take a look at her, noticing her dark brown hair is a bit longer than it was last time I saw her, now brushing her shoulders.

  “Mom.” I kiss her cheek, which makes me think of Dad. The reminder causes a pain behind my ribs. “Sorry I wasn’t able to pick you up. Shit got—a—shit got out of hand here.”

  She rolls her hazel eyes. They’re so close to the same color as mine, that the minute people see her, they know she’s my mom.

  “I heard,” she says dryly, with no tone of surprise. “Did you know this crazy loon made a sign?” Her thumb motions in Blake’s direction. “Sexiest Grandma Alive?”

  “Jesus, dude.” I shake my head. Why am I even surprised?

  “It’s a compliment. What the hell, man, look at her.” He shrugs, unfazed by the entire situation.

  Mom just shakes her head, a small grin on her perfectly made-up face. Blake doesn’t faze her much, no matter how hard he tries.

  “Okay, boys, moving on… Where’s my girl?” Her excitement to see Raven rolls off her in waves, reminding me again that I’ve been blessed with two perfect women. “The shower should be starting soon. Let’s get inside.”

  * * *

  Raven’s shower ended up going smoother than I anticipated. Once the paper dick was nothing but ash, Eve seemed to have the sense to keep it semi-normal. I use the term loosely, because one of the games consisted of taking a diaper and inspecting the shit inside it. Who in their right mind thought that up? Come to find out, the shit was melted candy bars.

  Weird-ass women.

  After everyone left, I settled Raven in our room. She needs to rest more, something she’s always resisting. With only about eight weeks until the baby is due, I want her off her feet as much as possible.

  I find my mom in the living room picking up. “You don’t have to clean up. I’ve got it.”

  “I don’t mind. It gives me something to do. Besides, I need to keep moving, or I’ll never get all my steps in.”

  “The hell?”

  She holds up her wrist, like that answers my question.

  “Um… Jonah? Since we have a minute alone, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

  This can’t be good. Mom only calls me Jonah when I’m in trouble, or when she has something serious to tell me. “What is it?”

  “I…um…I…” She’s hesitating.

  “Mom, whatever it is, just say it.”

  “I think I want to start dating again.” She doesn’t look at me. Just keeps picking up paper plates like she didn’t just hit me with a right hook.

  “Dating?”

  “Yes, dating.” She continues around my living room, trying to be nonchalant.

  “I—I don’t know what to say.” The sudden wave of nausea catches me off guard. “Have you asked Beth what she thinks?”

  “Asked? No.” For the first time since this conversation started, she stops cleaning and looks at me. “But I told her before they left for China.”

  The reminder that my sister, her husband, and twin boys moved overseas for a year, for Rick’s job, distracts me for a second.

  “You told her?”

  “Yes, Jonah. I told her. Just like I’m telling you.”

  It occurs to me now, that she’s not asking if it’s okay if she dates. She’s telling me she’s doing it regardless of what I think. The irrational thought that she’s cheating on my dad has my mouth moving before I have time to think.

  “No.”

  “I’m sorry. What?”

  “You can’t date. It’s not fair to Dad.”

  Her shoulders sag at my words; tears threaten to spill from her eyes. Silence hangs between us, the air heavy with sorrow. I’m already regretting my words, but can’t bring myself to take them back.

  She looks down at her wrist. “Oh, shoot.” She sniffs lightly and the sound is like a punch to the gut. “I have a ton of steps to get in before the hour is up. I’ll be back in a little bit.”

  Then, she turns and walks out the front door.

  “Fuck.” I resist the urge the punch a hole in the wall. Instead, I grab a trash bag and start jamming paper products inside. I don’t like it when Mom and I have tension. It’s something that very rarely happens, and knowing I caused that look on her face has me heading for the front door so I can go after her. I yank it open, but don’t get far when I see her sitting on the front step. Proving what an asshole I’m being right now. The idea that I hurt her feelings is unbearable.

  I take a seat next to her. “Did you decide against the walk?” I’m not sure what to say here. Having Mom upset with me goes against every law of nature.

  “I made it to the end of the drive, then realized these shoes aren’t really designed for walking.” She kicks her little boot out.

  Not able to go another minute hearing the sadness in her voice, I get straight to the point. “I’m really sorry. I—I had no right to say what I did
.”

  “Joey?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you have any idea how much I miss your father?”

  “If it’s even half as much as I do, then yes, I think I have an idea.”

  “Imagine how you would feel if that beautiful girl sleeping in your bed right now was taken away. Imagine if someone knocked on this very door, then told you that you would never hold her again.”

  “Mom...” The word is thick and clogged in my throat. Talking about the loss of Dad, in combination with just the idea that I could ever lose Raven is more than I can handle.

  “It’s been fifteen years.” Silent tears run down her face.

  Christ. I wrap my arm around her and pull her close. “I just want you to be happy. So, if you’re ready to start dating, then I’ll do my best to not be a complete dick about it.”

  My attempt to lighten the mood works. She laughs a little while wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “Thank you sweetheart.”

  “Love you, Mom.” I kiss the top of her head, and then pray I can find the strength to see my mom with another man.

  * * *

  “Jonah?”

  The conversation I had with Mom earlier just repeats itself over and over in my brain. I need to shut it off and get some sleep.

  “Jonah?” Raven’s voice interrupts my thoughts. “What’s the matter?”

  “What? Nothing.”

  “Really?”

  It’s with her last statement I realize she has her leg wrapped around mine, her round belly tucked against my side. Warm fingertips skate under the waistband of my boxer briefs.